Input-Output Budgets of Inorganic Nitrogen for 24 Forest Watersheds in the Northeastern United States: A Review

Input-output budgets for dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) are summarized for 24 small watersheds at 15 locations in the northeasternUnited States. The study watersheds are completely forested, free of recent physical disturbances, and span a geographical region bounded by West Virginia on the south and west, and Maine on the north and east. Total N budgets are not presented; however, fluxes of inorganic N in precipitation and streamwater dominate inputs and outputs of N at these watersheds. The range in inputs of DIN in wet-only precipitation from nearby National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) sites was 2.7 to 8.1 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 (mean = 6.4 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1; median = 7.0 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1). Outputs of DIN in streamwater ranged from 0.1 to 5.7 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 (mean = 2.0 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1; median = 1.7 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1). Precipitation inputs of DIN exceeded outputs in streamwater at all watersheds, with net retention of DIN ranging from 1.2 to 7.3 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 (mean = 4.4 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1; median = 4.6 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1). Outputs of DIN in streamwater were predominantly NO₃-N (mean = 89%; median = 94%). Wet deposition of DIN was not significantly related to DIN outputs in streamwater for these watersheds. Watershed characteristics such as hydrology, vegetation type, and land-use history affect DIN losses and may mask any relationship between inputs and outputs. Consequently, these factors need to be included in the development of indices and simulation models for predicting 'nitrogen saturation' and other ecological processes.     

Elevational Patterns of Acid Deposition into a Forest and Nitrogen Saturation on Mt. Oyama, Japan

Virgin fir trees have been dying on Mt. Oyama, which is located in the southwestern part of Kanto Plain, although the frequency of death seems to be reducing recently. We report elevational patterns of acid deposition in precipitation and throughfall under fir and cedar canopies and nitrogen saturation in the forest ecosystem on Mt. Oyama. The deposition fluxes of major inorganic ions in precipitation were nearly constant regardless of elevation except for hydrogen and ammonium ions, whereas the deposition fluxes of all major inorganic ions in throughfall among cedar increased. The 5-year average of annual nitrate deposition in precipitation from 1994 to 1998 showed 19.3 – 23.5 kg ha^?1 yr^?1 (annual inorganic total N deposition: 9.6 – 10.7 kgN ha^?1 yr^?1) at four sites ranging in elevation from 500 to 1252 m, whereas the deposition in both cedar and fir throughfall was over 6 times greater than that in precipitation. The average soil surface nitrate concentration in 1998 was 140 µg g^?1 (the range: 21.1 – 429 µg g^?1, n=80) and the 7-year average of nitrate concentration in stream water from 1992 to 1998 was 4.81 mg L^?1 (the range: 2.38 – 20.6 mg L^?1, n=317). Our results indicate that nitrogen saturation is occurring in the forest ecosystem because of high N deposition, probably via acid fog, on Mt. Oyama.     

Nitrogen Saturation and Soil N Availability in a High-Elevation Spruce and Fir Forest

A field study was conducted during the summer of 1995 to gain abetter understanding of the causes of nitrate (NO₃-N)leaching and ongoing changes in soil nitrogen (N) availabilityin high-elevation (1524–2000 m) spruce (Picea rubens) andfir (Abies fraseri) forests of the Great Smoky MountainsNational Park, Tennessee and North Carolina, U.S.A. Indicatorsof soil N availability (total soil N concentrations,extractable NH₄-N, extractable NO₃-N, and C/N ratios)were measured in Oa and A horizons at 33 study plots. Dynamicmeasures included potential net soil N mineralization determinedin 12-week aerobic laboratory incubations at 22 °C.Potential net nitrification in the A horizon was correlated (r =+0.83, P < 0.001) with total soil N concentrations. Mostmeasures of soil N availability did not exhibit significanttrends with elevation, but there were topographic differences.Potential net soil N mineralization and net nitrification in theA horizon were higher in coves than on ridges. Relative amountsof particulate and organomineral soil organic matter influencedpotential net N mineralization and nitrification in the Ahorizon. Calculations indicate that soil N availability andNO₃-N leaching in high-elevation spruce and fir forests ofthe Great Smoky Mountains National Park will increase inresponse to regional warming.     

Organochlorine residues in brook trout from remote lakes in the Northeastern United States

Organochlorine residues were analyzed in brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) collected from six undisturbed lakes in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The residues (whole body) were compared among age groups of fish and were correlated by regression analyses with water chemistry factors that might be affected by acid precipitation. There were significant differences in the organochlorine content of fish from different lakes but not among age groups of fish within each lake or among all lakes. There were no significant correlations between the water chemistry values measured and organochlorine content of the fish. Inasmuch as no organochlorine pesticides have been used within the lake watersheds, the compounds must have reached these lakes by atmospheric transport.     

Zinc Cu,Ni and Cd in the forest floor in the Northeastern United States

A regional study was conducted to assess current levels of trace metals in the forest floor, and to establish a baseline for future studies of metal accumulation. Quantitative forest floor samples collected from 78 sites in 9 states in the northeastern United States in 1978 and 1980 were analyzed for Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd. Mean amounts present in the forest floor were 9.8 ± 1.9 (standard error of the mean), 1.7 ± 0.2, 0.86 ± 0.08, and 0.13 ± 0.01 kg ha^?1, for Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd, respectively. Mean concentrations were 133 ± 25, 19.5 ± 1.6, 11 ± 0.8, and 1.7 ± 0.1 mg kg^?1, respectively. Differences in metal and organic matter concentrations and amounts among forest types were attributed to geographic location of specific forest types rather than to direct biotic influence. No element was strongly correlated with elevation for the entire sample area. Regional patterns of elemental amounts showed that trace metal levels are slightly higher in the southern part than in the northern part of the study region. Regional variation of Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd in the forest floor was not indicative of atmospheric deposition except near point sources of pollution.     

Dose-response relationships for the addition of limestone to lakes and ponds in the Northeastern United States

A titration based model (DeAcid) has been used to predict treatment dose and times for reacidification for CaCO₃-treated lakes in the Living Lakes, Inc. (LLI) aquatic liming program. Water quality constitutents (pH, ANC and Ca) were used to measure the effectiveness of the dosing model and reacidification rates. Data from 22 lakes or ponds in 5 northeast states have been collected since June 1986. With few exceptions, pH and ANC values ranged from 4.5 to 6.5 and ?30 to +65 ueq L^?1, respectively, in untreated sites and 6.5 to 7.8 and 120 to 300 ueq L^?1, respectively, in sites approximately 30 days after treatment. Changes in Ca concentration levels have been used to evaluate the utility of the dose model for treatment of both inland and coastal waters. For coastal, seepage lakes application of a single-box mass transfer model to observed post-liming changes in ANC and Ca adequately simulates lake response.     

Atlantic salmon resources in the Northeastern United States and the potential effects of acidification from atmospheric deposition

The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was formerly abundant in northeast coastal rivers in the United States from the Canadian border to the Connecticut River, and possibly as far south as the Delaware River. It was eliminated from most of its former range by a combination of overfishing, construction of dams impassable to migrating fish, and municipal and industrial pollution. Reproducing populations are now limited to a few rivers in Maine, but attempts are under way to reintroduce the species to some rivers where populations formerly existed. Most of the native Atlantic salmon rivers are low in acid neutralizing capacity and receive acidic precipitation. The third order streams are not now acidic; however, in some first and second order streams in Maine, pH episodically declines to 4.7 and Al increases to 350 μg g^?1. These conditions could be toxic to sensitive early life history stages of Atlantic salmon. Comparison of chemical conditions in two Maine rivers in 1980–1982 with those in 1969–1970 indicated that the streams have not become more acidic during this interval. Data on the sport catch of Atlantic salmon indicated that populations have generally remained stable or recently increased in the Maine rivers having naturally reproducing populations. The recent increase probably resulted from introductions of hatchery smolts to supplement natural reproduction, and the occurrence of strong year classes in 1978 and 1980. The population in one stream has declined significantly in recent years, but the cause of the decline is probably not related to acidic precipitation. Atlantic salmon resources in the U.S. have apparently not been adversely affected by atmospheric deposition at the present time.     

An Empirical Approach for Assessing the Relationship Between Nitrogen Deposition and Nitrate Leaching from Upland Catchments in the United Kingdom Using Runoff Chemistry

Samples were collected from 13 upland sites (main inflow and loch outflow) in the UK along an N deposition gradient of 12-50 kg ha^-1 yr^-1 to determine the relationship between N deposition and NO₃ ^- concentrations in surface waters. There was no direct correlation between NO₃ ^- leaching and soluble inorganic N deposition at these sites, but a significant relationship with NO₃ ^- was found using a deposition function incorporating dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux from each catchment. A similar but less significant relationship was found between NO₃ ^- concentration and DOC:DON ratio in runoff water. Catchments showed evidence of N saturation, i.e., when mean NO₃ ^- concentration exceeded 5 µeq L^-1, when the mean DOC:DON ratio fell below an approximate value of 25. Five other large loch sites (LLS) with multiple subcatchments were used to test these relationships and for four of these mostly heathland sites the predicted NO₃ ^- concentrations closely matched measured values. At the fifth site, where most subcatchments were forested, the deposition function and DOC:DON ratios gave conflicting predictions and both methods generally underestimated measured NO₃ ^- concentrations. If the capacity of these catchments to retain deposited N is determined by C supply then many upland catchments in the UK may experience increasing NO₃ ^- concentrations in runoff in the future at current or increased levels of N deposition.     

中美环境影响评价制度比较

美国是环境影响评价立法最早的国家。我国的环境影响评价制度与美国相比,法律体系更为完善、评价主体更为合理,但对环境影响评价目的、适用范围、内容及公众参与等方面的规定,还有待于补充完善。     

Nitrogen and Sulfate Export from High Elevation Catchments of the Sierra Nevada,California

Based on studies of high-elevation, Sierra Nevada catchments during the period from 1983 through 1996, we describe temporal variations in the concentrations of NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2- in surface waters. During snowmelt, some catchments had a pattern of NO₃ ^- increase to a plateau between the start of snowmelt and some weeks before runoff peaked, and a decline as runoff increased to its maximum. In other catchments, NO₃ ^- concentrations peaked during the autumn and winter. Long-term trends in surface water chemistry were evident in only two catchments: an increase in SO₄ ^2- concentrations in surface waters of the Ruby Lake basin, and a lowering of annual maxima and minima of NO₃ ^- concentrations at Emerald Lake. From October 1987 through April 1994, SO₄ ^2- concentrations increased from about 6 µeq L^-1 to about 12 µeq L^-1 in Ruby Lake, and in Emerald Lake, NO₃ ^- maxima declined by 25-50 %.     

An Overview of Nitrogen Critical Loads for Policy Makers, Stakeholders, and Industries in the United States

Critical load values are calculated to determine ecosystem responses to deposition in a given area; these values may act as a tool to identify sensitive ecosystems in further need of protection. This overview provides an introduction to nitrogen critical loads for policy makers and parties involved in managing nitrogen deposition including electric utility generators, transportation managers and automobile manufacturers, and large-scale agricultural operators in the United States. It examines the use of the critical loads concept in European nations for establishing policy guidelines, current research on nitrogen critical loads in the U.S., and the development of nitrogen critical loads modeling and mapping.     

Effects of Chronic Nitrogen Amendments on Production of Dissolved Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in Forest Soils

Chronic N deposition has been hypothesized to affect DOC production in forest soils due to the carbon demand exerted by microbial immobilization of inorganic N. We tested this hypothesis in field experiments at the Harvard Forest, Petersham, Massachusetts, USA. During four years of sampling soil solution collected beneath the forest floor in zero-tension lysimeters, we observed little change in DOC concentrations (10-30% increase, not statistically significant) associated with elevated N inputs, but did observe significant increases in DON concentrations. Both DOC and DON varied seasonally with highest concentrations in summer and autumn. Mean DON concentrations increased 200-300 % with the highest rate of inorganic N fertilization, and concentrations of DON were highest in samples with high inorganic N concentrations. We conclude that the organic chemistry of soil solution undergoes qualitative changes as a result of long-term N amendment at this site, with small changes in DOC, large increases in DON, and a decline in the C:N ratio of dissolved organic matter.     

不同施氮量对林地和农田黑土净氮转化速率的影响

用在土壤含水量为田间持水量60%、温度20℃恒定条件下进行室内培养的方法,研究不同NH₄⁺-N施用量(0、40、60、80 mg kg^-1)对林地和农田黑土净氮转化速率的影响。结果表明,在不施氮的条件下林地黑土的净氮矿化速率为负值,表现为对氮的净固定;在施氮条件下林地黑土的净氮矿化速率为正值,表现为对氮的净矿化,且随NH₄⁺-N施用量(0～60 mg kg^-1)的增加而增加,但NH₄⁺-N施用量超过60 mg kg^-1后土壤净氮矿化速率反而稍有降低。施氮对农田土壤氮矿化的影响与林地土壤相反,不施氮的农田土壤净氮矿化速率为正值,施氮后土壤净氮矿化速率为负值,且随NH₄⁺-N施用量(0～80 mg kg^-1)的增加而降低。施用NH₄⁺-N肥显著促进了林地和农田土壤硝化作用,但对农田土壤的...     

林分类型和氮添加对亚热带森林土壤氧化亚氮排放的影响

为揭示亚热带森林土壤N₂O排放对林分类型和氮添加的响应特征,选取位于福建省三明市的中亚热带米槠次生林、杉木人工林和马尾松人工林土壤为研究对象,分别设置无氮添加(N0 mg/kg)、低氮添加(N10 mg/kg)、中氮添加(N25 mg/kg)和高氮添加(N50 mg/kg)4个氮添加水平,进行微宇宙培养试验,测定土壤N₂O排放。结果表明：与无氮添加处理相比,氮添加整体上降低3种林分土壤pH,增加土壤NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N含量。无氮添加处理中杉木人工林和马尾松人工林土壤N₂O累积排放量分别为9.67和9.62 mg/kg,显著高于米槠次生林土壤N₂O累积排放量6.81 mg/kg。低氮添加处理中杉木人工林和马尾松人工林土壤N₂O累积排放量显著高于米槠次生林。但在中氮和高氮添加处理中,3种林分土壤N₂O累积排放量均无显著性差异。不同氮添加处理均促进3种林分土壤N     

毛竹林生态系统地表径流及其氮素流失形态研究

通过在四岭水库流域代表性毛竹林地设置定位径流小区,研究了不同施肥条件下毛竹林生态系统地表径流及其氮素流失状况。该定位试验设有对照(CK,不施肥)、农民常规高产栽培(FFP)与适地养分科学管理(SS-NM)共3个施肥处理。结果表明,在2009年6-12月的观察期内,各处理(CK、SSNM、FFP)在各次自然降雨条件下产生的径流总量分别达到279,284,267m3/hm2,泥沙流失总量分别达到393,369,396kg/hm2,全氮流失量分别为0.87,0.92,0.82kg/hm2。径流量、泥沙流失量和全氮流失量都与降雨量之间呈极显著正相关。径流量的产生主要集中在8月份,泥沙流失量主要集中在6,7,8三个月。土壤氮素流失的主要形态是颗粒氮(PN)和水溶性总氮(DN),分别占全氮流失量的51%和49%。CK、SSNM、FFP处理在此期间的径流可溶性氮(DN)流失量分别为0.37,0.46,0.49kg/hm2。与农民常规施肥措施相比,适地养分科学管理(SSNM),不仅可以明显减少毛竹林地泥沙的流失量,而且可以减少径流可溶性氮的流失量。     

流域侵蚀过程研究

论文系统总结了流域侵蚀的概念和流域侵蚀系统及其过程,认为流域侵蚀系统是一种开放系统,并具体阐述了流域侵蚀力、流域侵蚀系统的空间结构、功能和演化过程。重点分析了流域侵蚀的模型与模拟方法,包括流域整体侵蚀强度模拟、流域侵蚀发展过程模拟与流域侵蚀内部差异模拟三个方面。     

Soil Ammonium Diffusion Constraints Contribute to Large Differences in Nitrogen Supply to Rice in the Southern United States

This study was to determine if diffusion of soil ammonium may explain why many sandy soils have greater nitrogen (N)–supplying capacity to rice than clay soils. A laboratory procedure using transient-state methods measured the linear movement of soil ammonium (NH₄) in tubes packed with five field soils under aerobic conditions. Ammonium diffusion was measured by sectioning tubes after 48 h of equilibration and then measuring NH₄ by steam distillation. Effective diffusion coefficients, D_e, and NH₄ diffusion distance, d, per day ranged from D_e = 4.6 × 10^?5 cm² d^?1 and 1.5 cm d^?1 for Katy sandy loam to D_e = 2.9 × 10^?7 cm² d^?1 and 0.11 cm d^?1 for League clay. Ammonium diffusion distance d was strongly related to soil clay content and hence was predicted by d = Y × {[100/(% clay)] ? 1}, where Y is set to 0.1. Predicted d and measured d were highly related (R² = 0.99).     

Effects of Land Use Conversion from Native Forests to Exotic Plantations on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Retention in Catchments of Southern Chile

In six small catchments located at the Cordillera de la Costa in southern Chile (40° S), concentrations and fluxes of NO₃-N, NH₄-N, organic-N, total-N and total-P in bulk precipitation and runoff water were measured. The main objective of this study was to compare nitrogen and phosphorus retention of catchments with varying land cover of native forest and exotic plantations, in order to evaluate possible effects of land use change. Nitrate-N was the dominant fraction (>50%) of nitrogen loss, especially in the catchments dominated by exotic plantations. In the catchment with native forests, NO₃ ^? only contributed with 34% of the nitrogen loss and DON was the main output with 55%. Annual NO₃ ^? export was lower in the catchment with native forest compared to the catchments with exotic plantations where the streamflow output exceed the precipitation input. Average inputs of total-N were 2.6 kg ha^?1 year^?1 (DIN?=?1.4 kg ha^?1 year^?1, DON?=?1.2 kg ha^?1 year^?1) and outputs were 1.7 kg ha^?1 year^?1 (DIN?=?1.2 kg ha^?1 year^?1, DON?=?0.5 kg ha^?1 year^?1). Annual retention of total nitrogen fluctuated between 61% in a catchment dominated by native forests to 15% in catchments dominated by exotic plantations of Eucalyptus sp. Nitrogen retention was positively related with native forest coverage. The N retention capacity of the catchments could be both attributed to consequences of clear cutting practices and differences in vegetation cover.     

Carbon Control on Nitrogen Dynamics in the Forest Floor of an N-Enriched Deciduous Forest Ecosystem

Recent evidence from nitrogen (N) saturation studies indicates that forest floors in moderately impacted forests are the primary sink for atmospheric N inputs. Some researchers have suggested that the sink capacity of organic horizons is dependent on the amount of available carbon (C), which can be used for microbial N assimilation. To test the hypothesis that C limitation in forest floors exposed to chronic N deposition leads to an enhanced N leaching, a field C input manipulation experiment is under way in a deciduous forest. Since September 1999 aboveground C input has been doubled (by doubling litter input or by amending glucose) or excluded in replicated plots. Here we report the short-term response of concentrations of dissolved inorganic N (DIN: NO₃ ^?-N and NH₄ ⁺-N) in forest floor percolate to the C input manipulation. In autumn following the C input manipulation, DIN concentrations in forest floor percolate decreased in all plots except the No Litter plots compared to the pre-treatment summer concentrations. In contrast, the concentrations of DIN in the No Litter plots remained high. A different seasonal pattern of DIN leaching among treatments, along with measurements of microbial biomass C and potential nitrification rates of forest floor samples, indicates that seasonal N dynamics in the forest floor are largely regulated by C availability changes assoicated with litterfall C input.     

Contemporary Erosion and Sedimentation on Gray Forest Soils in Hollows of Small Catchments of the Republic of Tatarstan,European Russia

Eurasian Soil Science - The paper presents an assessment of the rates of erosion and sedimentation in hollows of the Temeva Rechka small dry valley catchment, dominated by forest-steppe gray forest...